It's idiotic, and I don't support the move. Also there isn't a concrete plan. Barely a conception of a plan, really.
But if you read the article, the plan isn't to just say "no thank you", it's to take the money and brand their own version. Might be to allocate the money to pre-existing AB low-income dental coverage. Maybe they'll just create a new benefit with federal money and call it AB and take credit for it.
It reminds me of the inverse of the UCP and the carbon tax. If you recall, provinces could make their own OR have the federal one. The NDP (when they were in provincial power) made their own, and the UCP raked them over the coals for it... AS IF there was an option to NOT have one. UCP scrapped the provincial carbon tax day one. Made literally zero difference because all that meant was now it was instantly superceded by the federal carbon tax.
But the point stood: If the feds do something unpopular, do NOTHING to make it better so you can place the full blame on Ottawa. If the feds do something popular, do EVERYTHING to try and rebrand it to give the province credit. The UCP literally only has one playbook, and it's to use Ottawa as a foil.
I genuinely think Smith intentionally was trying to sabotage PP. She can't govern with Conservatives in federal power.
To be clear, that doesn't make her good or smart. She's a career opportunist, an I am gleeful in my belief that I don't think she can beat Nenshi, at least not without some really shady gerrymandering. 1000 flipped votes last provincial election would have done it, and Nenshi can easily hit that mark.